Edina, MN, April 29, 2012 —

It was the best feel-good moment of the week when 6,000 Minnesota families and companies joined together in support of the smallest citizens —babies—by participating in the 2012 March for Babies to benefit the March of Dimes Sunday, April 29.  Parade Stadium in Minneapolis and Phalen Park in St. Paul was filled with strollers, families and corporate teams who together raised $1.8 million statewide to help babies be born healthy.

Money raised by the event funds research, education and local community grants for expanding programs such as NICU Family Support to a Twin Cities hospital in 2012.  NICU Family Support provides information and comfort to families during their stay in the hospital and during the transition home.  Currently, St. Cloud Hospital operates the only NICU Family Support program in Minnesota.

Additional March for Babies events were held Austin/Albert Lea, Bemidji, Brainerd, Duluth, Fairmont, Faribault, Grand Rapids, Mankato, Marshall, Minneapolis, Monticello, Red Wing, Rochester, St. Cloud, Virginia and Winona.

Premature birth is the most urgent infant health problem in the U.S. today. It affects more than half a million babies each year, including more than 7,200 each year in Minnesota.  The March of Dimes is the leading nonprofit organization for pregnancy and baby health. With chapters nationwide and its premier event, March for Babies the March of Dimes works to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality. For the latest resources and information, visit marchofdimes.com or nacersano.org. Find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.

The March for Babies is sponsored nationally by the March of Dimes number one corporate supporter Kmart, Farmers Insurance Group, Cigna, Famous Footwear, Sanofi Pasteur, FedEx, Mission Pharmacal, Watson Pharmaceuticals, First Response, and United Airlines.  State sponsors are Medica and Optum.  Local sponsors include Express Scripts, Essentia Health, Allina Health, Children’s Hospital & Clinics of Minnesota, 5 EYEWITNESS NEWS, Love 105, Minnesota Monthly and Xfinity.